Calculating indices of land suitability for agricultural crops: An interactive numerical technique

S. C. Lok; M. Phipps

ABSTRACT:

A major inaccuracy of numerical methods of determining land suitability has been their inability to clarify interactions among land characteristics. The technique described here uses vectors and matrices to represent soil conditions and land use requirements. Through a series of simple applications of matrix algebra, the technique combines site conditions and land use requirements, flexibly accounting for both positive and negative interactions, to calculate indices of site suitability for a defined land use. A test of the model in a region of Carleton County, Ontario, produced encouraging results. Possible extensions of the technique include the incorporation of climatic and socioeconomic data.

Footnotes

S. C. Lok is a production development analyst in the Farm Development Division of the Regional Development and International Affairs Branch, Agriculture Canada, Ottawa, Ontario K1A OC5. Dr. Michel Phipps is an associate professor, Department of Geography. University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario K1N 6N5.
Copyright 1981 by the Soil and Water Conservation Society

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